The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-06-16
From Mondays Daily.
COMMENCRME EMIT WEEK.
Closing Exercises at Ghe Normal and
EoNlawa


Closing Exercises at Ghe Normal and
College
Commencement week at the State
Normal school opened Saturday even
ing at the Normal building by the con-
test between the literary societies
which was held in the chapel.
On account of the bad weather
and the failure of some of
the judges TO arrive, the exercises did
not open until $50. The first thing ON
the programme was chorus by an
octette and this was followed by an in
vocation by Rev. F. Il. ingalls,.
Miss Emma Taylor then rendered an
instrumental solo after which President
Taylor made few explanatory re-
marks as to the plan of choosing the
contestants. The declaimers are cho-
sen by the faculty from students in the
first year classes. The Lyceum and
Literati Societies choose the debaters,
wo from each.
The judges in defamation were Mrs.
Kate S. Cross, Rev. a. G.. Burgen and
Prof. Ii. M. Kinggy. The disclaimers
were graded on the merits of interpre-
tation and delivery. The first contest
ant was Miss Anna Boyles, who rem
dered "A selection entitled Brides of
Enderby," in an easy, pleasing manner.
She was composed and her delivery was
characterized by excellent articulation,
good, strong, clear voice and graceful
gesture, all showing careful prepare
tion on her part.
Mrs. Louise Fox was the next de-
claimer, and had chosen 'Coodle Doom"
as her selection. 1t was one well
adapted to her manner and voice, and
was creditably rendered. She elected
hearty applause from the audience.
The last contestant for declamatory
honors was Robert NJ. Ruggles, who
gave production entitled 'Toussaint
L'Ouverture." The selection was one
most elOquently written, and Mr.. Rug
giles delivered it with the vim and
spirit of true orator, holding the
closest attention of the audience from
beginning to end. lie has good voice,
and manifested much earnestness in
his delivery, which made his rendition
impressive.
A duet by Miss Lura Baker and Mrs.
Louise Fox closed the defamation part
of the programme.
The next thing on the programme was
thu debate on the question IRE solved,
That all Usury Laws should be Re-
pealed'' Mr.. Burrows, of the Liter
att, opened the debate for the aflirma-
tive and spoke in most pleasing and
forcible manner. He said usury laws
originated with the Jews and are merely
kept up through force of habit. The
legal rate of loaning money should be
based on the moral right and the
moral right on custom. The price of
money like any other commodity fluct-
yates in the market. Usury as delln cd
from n legal standpoint is a greater
rate of interest than is allowed by law,
from "A moral standpoint it is more
than any one would be willing to take
for the use of money. a man who
realizes 20 or % per cent on an invest
ment in real estate, is pointed out as a
shrewd business man. The Law of
the land protects that man in this
transaction, but should he loan this
money SO as To get % or so per cent on
the dollar he would be guilty of GRIM
NAL offence. MIR. Barnes closed his
argument 10y citing cases in which
usuTy laws had been abolished in other
countries.
MIR. III. o. Kruse i'm behalf of the Ly-
ceum Society replied on the negative.
Mr.. Kruse spoke almost entirely eX
tempo and presented a fine appearance
on the rostrum. He drew distinction
between commodity and money by say
ing that commodity is unlimited, but
money may justly be so. Usury laws
do not COMPEL any man to loan his
"a 10 H..vN
protection to the borrower. 1t is not
to be denied that's the usury laws
are not enforced in all cases;but neither
is the law against horse stealing.
Should good law be repealed because
bad man chooses to break it? Mr..
Kruse spoke in a very clear and forcible
manner and was credited by many in
the audience as being the first debateI
of the evening.
Mr.. L. Il. Hand followed on behalf
of the affirmative and produced some
very strong arguments. MIR. &. j
Wrightman closed the debate on behalf
of the negative. For one so young Mr.
Wrightman's effort was certainly com
mendable. He spoke with much earn
estness and seemed to carry his au
dience with him. In closing he summed
up all the points of the negative. Mr.
Barrows closed the debate in a five min
ute's speech.
While the decision of the judges wa
being prepared, the Normal Glee Clul
favored the audience with severa
selections of music, they being Gale,
out by encore two or three times.
Rev. Samuel Sargent was asked t,
deliver the prizes to the winners, whicl
he did i'm neat little speech, awarding
first honor in defamation TO Rober
M. Ruggles.
The prize consisted of handsomel
bound volume of Henry w. LOngfel
lows illustrated edition of Michae
Angelo.
The debate was won by the affirma
tive, giving Mr.. +. II. Barrows tn
prize, consisting of the persona
Memoirs of u. 5. Grant. The debat
was very close, as the markings of tn
judges show. We give them below.
DEBATE.
Il. -. IL.